Avram Grant suggested that Didier Drogba owed Chelsea his match-winning performance against Arsenal yesterday which kept them on the coat-tails of Manchester United in the hunt for the Premier League title.

"It's about time," said the manager as he reflected on Drogba's late goals which gave Chelsea a 2-1 win. The striker had knee surgery in early December and then missed more than a month of club football as he led the Ivory Coast at the African Cup of Nations. His goal in the 4-4 draw at Tottenham Hotspur last Wednesday night, six weeks after his return from the tournament in Ghana, was his first in the Premier League since November.

"All the players from the African Nations Cup were not in the shape that they were before [they left], which is reasonable," added Grant. "It was 40 degrees out there and they didn't train. Against Tottenham Didier was better and today he was very, very good."

Grant took great personal satisfaction from his first league victory over a big-four rival, particularly as he was barracked by the home support when he made a double substitution at 1-0 down, replacing Claude Makelele and Michael Ballack with Nicolas Anelka and Juliano Belletti. The crowd chanted "You don't know what you're doing" and then the name of his popular predecessor, Jose Mourinho. Drogba equalised moments later, then scored the winner on 82 minutes.

"I didn't hear [the crowd]," said Grant. "I concentrate on what I need to do and I am confident in that. I was concentrating only on the game."

Drogba, who has now scored seven goals in seven matches against Arsenal, faces speculation over his Chelsea future, having stated his intention to leave, but he is still determined to win silverware.

"My goals gave us the belief that we are still in the [title] race with Man United," he said. "Arsenal are not dead but maybe it will be more difficult for their confidence.

"The players who were playing did their jobs fantastically but it's all about the team and the substitutions gave us what we wanted. The way we celebrated shows this win means a lot. After the Tottenham game it was a bit difficult, it was a big disappointment, but we are still in it."